Blue Jays feed the seats in offensive outburst over Twins

The Toronto Blue Jays hit four home runs on Friday night to defeat the Minnesota Twins 9-3 at Target Field.

A five-run sixth inning was capped off by a three-run home run from Jose Bautista.

Aaron Sanchez was very strong through his first six innings, needing just 78 pitches. He found some trouble in the seventh, but still managed to hold the Twins to just two earned runs on eight hits. With seven strikeouts and no walks, Sanchez lowered his ERA to 3.20.

Drew Storen entered in the lowest-leverage situation Toronto could ask for and pitched well, striking out Miguel Sano and not allowing a base runner. Chad Girodo closed out the game, allowed a solo shot to Robbie Grossman in his lone inning of work.  

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Josh Donaldson‘s first home run since May 1st put the Blue Jays on top 2-1 in the third. The Blue Jays’ new lineup configuration paid dividends, too, as Bautista was on base after singling to left field out of the leadoff spot. Michael Saunders added a solo shot, his seventh of the season in a three-hit day, and Darwin Barney dropped one of his own over the left-field wall in the eighth.

Troy Tulowitzki continued to swing a strong bat by driving in Saunders on a deep double to right-centre field in the sixth. Jimmy Paredes then made his manager look smart, coming off the bench as a pinch-hitter for Ryan Goins to sneak an RBI single through the middle in the sixth inning.

With Kevin Pillar receiving a regular day of rest, Ezequiel Carrera saw the start in centre. He did his best Pillar impersonation in the fourth inning, though, diving to rob Trevor Plouffe of a single on a short flare.

Reliever Joe Biagini was not available out of the bullpen in this game, but John Gibbons said earlier in the day that he has earned more opportunities in high-leverage situations going forward.